(Today’s guest post is from Jeri Walker-Bickett at JeriWB.com. Take it away, Jeri!)

No doubt about it, German pancakes are a fun food item. I first encountered this tasty treat when I waited tables years ago at Elmer’s Restaurant (a small family chain based in the northwest). The cooks would call out when the pancake was almost ready to be yanked from the oven. The fixings then had to be thrown on quickly so it could be rushed out while still slightly puffy.

I am no cook, though I do love dining out. This German pancake recipe is one of the few simple meals I can claim to make. That’s what happens when a girl marries a guy who really knows his way around the kitchen. The first blog post of Mike’s that I read was on making an Umami Burger. I figured I would return the favor by sharing one of my favorite foods with him and Phoenix. (Here’s to hoping Phoenix will get a slice of bacon out of this.)

Over the years, I’ve tested a few recipes. The German pancake recipe featured here today is largely based on one that appeared in Sunset magazine back in 2005. I’ve adjusted it a tad to cut back on the amount of butter. Take note, this is not a low-calorie meal!

3 large eggs

¾ cup milk

½ teaspoon vanilla

½ cut all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons sugar

1/8 teaspoon salt

Lemon wedges and powdered sugar to taste

Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Place a 10-inch ovenproof frying pan (preferably cast iron) in so it can get warm.

In a large bowl or blender, beat or whirl eggs until light and pale. Beat or blend in milk, vanilla, flour, sugar, and salt.

Coat the warmed pan with a healthy dose of cooking spray. Pour the batter in and bake until pancake is puffed and lightly browned, 15 to 20 minutes.

*At 15 minutes, the pancake was already quite dark in my home oven. Also, if a more eggy texture is preferred, simply cut down on the amount of flour just a bit.

This type of dish goes great with a tall glass of milk and a couple slices of thick bacon. As for the one pictured here, I ate the entire thing for dinner one night. I made sure to save a slice of bacon for my rescue dog, Zoey. Here’s to good food, good friends, and good puppies.

Have you ever tried a German pancake?

Jeri Walker-Bickett (@JeriWB) writes short stories, creative nonfiction, and psychological suspense. The rough mining town she grew up in—with its mix of bars, churches, and whorehouses—populates her literary landscape. Food, travel, and photography also inspire her creativity. She lives in Idaho with her wonderful husband and their demanding pets. You can connect with her at JeriWB.com where she pursues good writing in all its forms. Please explore her titles via Amazon. She also works as a freelance editor.

Thank you for your wonderfully delicious guest post recipe, Jeri! We can’t wait to make it…and most of all eat it. Bring on the bacon!

Mike Vogler

I have been told (many times) that I really need to write a book about my life. The past 50+ years have been an exciting ride, and these days I find myself with a great many passions. However, I feel that this website is a much more personal way with which to share my musings, stories and commentary.

77 Responses to “A German Pancake Recipe for Mike and Phoenix”

Wow! that is so easy! I like this recipe, Jeri!
So glad to see you here, sharing it with lovely pictures too! It is a pleasant surprise to read this light hearted stuff here…I thought you are such a serious minded, intellectual writer, always giving tips about writing and talking about writers and books… It becomes intimidating at times!

Looks de-lish!!! If I had the ingredients, I might just make it for the hubs today. Too bad I don’t. Jeri, you’re making appearances on some of my favorite blogs. First Beth’s and now Mike’s. If these two love you, you must be a cool chick. I’m going to your site right now!!!!

Mandi, hopefully you’ll give the pancake a try when you have the right ingredients around. They’re really good, but in a few times a year kind of way. Beth and Mike are a couple of my favorite bloggers as well. I do run a tight, but eclectic writing ship over at my blog, so it’s fun to be able to try out other things on guest posts.

Jeri and Mike, German pancake (which I’ve never seen here btw) are one of my favorite breakfast foods. The place we have been going to eat them for 20 years is at Peter’s Cafe in Milbrae, CA. They have sauteed apples in them and are very yummy! When we do make them, we put apples in them. My mouth is watering, so maybe for Sunday breakfast! Great post!

Corinne, when I worked at Elmer’s lots of people would get theirs with apples on top as well. Another good topping was the mountain berry compote. Writing this post makes me want to visit Elmer’s again. I haven’t seen these pancakes at too many other places, but I don’t get to go out to breakfast as often as I would like either.

Yum. This looks beyond delicious and the recipe seems really easy to follow so is one that I’ll actually try!! Mike, you rock for sharing Jeri’s recipe. What did Phoenix think of it? And did he at least get more than 2 pieces of bacon?

Oooo, I’m in love with this dish. I think I’ll make it for Alpha Hubby for dinner tonight – thank you for sharing the recipe Jeri, and you Mike for being so amazing at promoting other people’s blogs!! You rawk, you and Phoenix!!

Ed, a good cast iron pan is worth the investment. When it’s too cold to want to use the grill outside, we’ll use it for fajitas as well. I remember being out camping and it’s all my grandmother ever cooked with on a wood burning stove at my family’s cabin.

My husband is the pancake maker in our house. Mine never seem to measure up. I do dinner. I’ll be passing this along. Anything that includes bacon I am in for! And our dogs are very naughty – they steal things right off the counter!

Yum – I’m such a sucker for fattening breakfasts! This looks delicious. I’m more of a waffle person, but the consistency and texture of this pancake looks like it’s just thick enough for my taste. And bacon! Mmmm….bacon. You cook bacon – right? I wonder if the tantalizing scent of bacon drives Phoenix nuts when you do. 😉 It’s such a comforting aroma to wake up to in the mornings.Bookmarking this recipe!

I’m so behind on reading blogs, but when I saw “German Pancake” I had to click!! YUM! I remember learning to make these when I was in grade school and then forgetting about them for YEARS. I definitely have to give it a try again, and I happen to have the perfect pan 🙂

Hi Jeri, and thank you for what looks like a mouth-watering, delicious meal!! We are pancake lovers so this recipe will go over like gold when we make it for our family. Our second favorite part of this scrumptious recipe is how simple it seems to prepare it. I was shocked that you made it in the oven. Most pancakes are made above the stove or on a griddle. And I have to tell you I was more than a little relieved. When I first eyed the picture, then seen the word pancake. I was like….There’s no way I’ll be able to flip that and keep that in one piece. I was so excited to find out all you have to do is put it inside the oven. Yay!! We will be trying this delicious treat this week for our family. But will replace the wedges with your idea of baked apples which sounded delightful!! 😉 Thanks again Jeri & to Mike for having you here on “Past My Curfew.”

Inion, no flipping required! That’s why I love this one so much too. At the very least, all that’s needed are tongs or a fork to ease it out of the pan and onto the place. I get so jealous of my hubby. He can flip eggs and pancakes without even using a spatula.

German pancakes sound surprisingly similar to Yorkshire puddings – In the UK, Yorkshire puddings are made with the same batter as (English) pancakes, but while pancakes are served sweet with lemon and sugar, Yorkshire puddings are served with meat, veg and gravy. This sounds just like a sweet Yorkshire pudding – will have to give it a try!

I would love to try it too, Tony! Whipped Cream and Chocolate Chips…lordy you just made my mouth water literally at the thought of that deliciousness! Great recipe here from Jeri and I’m looking forward to checking it out! 🙂

Jeri, Thanks much for sending me the link. How dumb? I live in Germany and I’ve never seen this type of pancake. I’m keeping this awesome recipe and maybe I’ll attempt it this coming weekend. My husband makes American pancakes, so maybe I should show him what a German pancake looks like. LOL!

Denise, I can’t wait to try a German pancake and all other varieties of culinary goodness when I visit during Oktoberfest. There was a German restaurant in Charlotte we always wanted to try, but had to move before we got around to it.

When I’m around on a weekend I make pancakes – cornmeal, oatmeal, poppyseed–buttermilk, apple-ricotta… but I have never done a baked pancake. I would definitely be in pancake nirvana – and calories be damned. Always real maple syrup on top for me.

Nice seeing you do a recipe Jeri. I know you know I’ve ate German pancakes before since I wrote about them in the past. They are pretty yummy! I need a cast iron skillet for things such as this but I just don’t know how much use it will get.

Yes, Jeri did a really good job with this and cast iron skillets rock. I thought the same thing as you, Krystle. Once it gets seasoned and about 2 dozen uses (where it really starts to hit it’s stride) you’ll wonder why you didn’t get one sooner! It only gets better with age and that can be over years!

I love German pancakes! My grandma used to order them every chance she got. Love making them in cast iron. Fabulous with homemade apple, berry or peach topping. But powdered sugar and lemon is the best!